List, I have only one experience with a cracked plate. Another technician and I took on the project some years ago. The plate had a crack in one of the struts. Although I did not see the welding process, it sounds very much the same as Vince and Del described. However, there were two other components to the welder's technique. First he slowly heated the area of the crack before welding. After finishing with the weld he packed hot sand around the area for a slow cool down. He claimed it would make a stronger bond. As far as know this piano is still up and running. Don McKechnie Ithaca College
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